Loom



Jan. 14, 1936. w. F. BIRD 2,027,803

Loom

Filed Aug. 14, 1931 3 Sheets$heet l W. F. BIRD Jan. 14,1936.

LOOM

Filed Aug. 14, 1931 s Sheets-Sheet 2 g @g a g 1% iiiiiiilllllllll" Jan, M, 1936 w. F. BIRD LOOM Filed Aug. 14, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 iiiiiiiiimllml" W Y n $5 I I iiiiilllllHu II II III iiiiiiimlllllll Patented Jan. 14, 1936 LOOM Whitworth Fontaine Bird, Drexel Hill, Pa.', assignor to Collins 8; Aikman Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa.,, a corporation of Delaware Application August 14, 1931, Serial No. 557,149 In Great Britain August 16, 1930 10 Claims.

My invention relates to looms of the type wherein the yarn package supplying the wefts is supported, and measured lengths of weft thread are drawn from the package and severed, independently of the weft carrier.

In looms of this type thread lengths are drawn from the yarn package in'the form of a loop and my improvementsare particularly designed to minimize the number of thread gripping and cutting devices required in the formation of such loops and to simplify the construction, action and movements of such devices. The length of the loop may be equal to two pick lengths, in which event the thread is severed after drawing out each loop or the length of the loop may be equal to a single pick length, in which event the thread is severed after drawing out every other loop.

A weft formed from a loop drawn out on one side of the loom is inserted in the shed by any suitable weft carrier, such as a dummy shuttle, and preferably in alternation with the insertion in the shed of a weft formed from a loop drawn out on the opposite side of the loom, so as to form in effect a series of interlaced hairpin-like loops providing a desired selvage.

In a preferred embodiment of my invention, there is provided on each side of a loom a stationary thread holder, which may be a mere guide or a gripper, and thread gripping and cutting mechanisms movable relatively to the thread holder to carry a thread passing through the latter into the path of a traveling thread-looping or drawing out device independent of the shuttle or weft carrier. The gripping and cutting mechanisms are movable to positionadjacent to the stationary thread holder to grip thread coming from the cop or package and to cut oil? the preceding length of thread. The gripper and cutter mechanisms are then moved away from the thread holder and draw after them a thread across the path of a drawing out device such as a hook or finger on an endless chain, a wheel or a plunger. When the movement of the drawing out device has drawn out a loop between the thread holder and movable gripper of sufficient lengths, the movable gripper releases its end of the loop, and this leg of the loop is carried through the shed by the weft carrier, the path of the latter being preferably near the bight of the loop, and the weft carrier preferably having a hook or the like through which the weft is drawn in its passage through the shed. On its return journey, the weft carrier brings a similar filling of weft which has been formed by similar mechanism on the opposite side of the loom.

In the meantime, the movable gripping and cutting mechanism has moved. to its position adjacent the stationary thread holder where it severs the second leg of the loop and grips a new end.- The weft carrier thereupon inserts the second leg of the loop in the shed and. this cycle is repeated from both sides of the loom.

When the stationary thread holder does not provide a gripper in itself, the movable gripper may be returned to its position adjacent the thread holder and grip the thread immediately after the loop has been formed, and the end released, and before the weft carrier engages the freed leg, so as to prevent any extra length of thread being drawn off the cop or package by the drag on the thread resulting from the passage of the first leg through the shed. Preferably, however, the stationary thread holder is provided with or consists of a gripper operable in synchronism with the action of the movable gripper and drawing out device so that during the insertion of the first leg of the loop the stationary gripper may hold the thread and prevent any excess being drawn from the cop.

In a modified embodiment of my improve- *ments, one or more grippers may be carried on an endless chain or on a wheel on each side of the loom. Each such gripper carries an end of thread from a stationary holder around a second stationary thread holder such as a hook, finger or the like. Thread cutting mechanismis actuated in turn to allow a weft carrier toinsert the respective legs of the loop into a shed. The movable gripper may be returned to its first position, either by continuing or reversing its path, to hold the thread coming from the package or cop before the second leg of the loop is severed. Thread guides are provided where necessary to cause the thread to pass into the grippers whileenabling the moving parts to follow a path clearing all stationary devices.

Suitable means are provided, where necessary, for deflecting the thread into the path of the weft carrier. for adjusting the length'of the loop and for providing a covered guideway to prevent the legs of the loop, after severance, from being blown out of position by air currents or otherwise.

The characteristic features and advantages of my improvements will further appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings in illustration thereof.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates diagrammaticaily a preferable arrangement of wefts in fabric made on a loom embodying my improvements; Figs. 2 to 7 illustrate diagrammatically a form of mechanism and sequence of operations involved in one embodiment of my invention; Fig. 8 illustrates diagrammatically mechanism involved in a second embodiment of my invention; Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a loom having applied thereto a preferred embodiment of my improvements; Fig. 10 is an enlarged front elevation of the preferred embodiment of my invention shown attached to a loom in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view on the line I l--i l of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view on the line l2-l2 of Fig. 10; Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional view on the line l3--|3 of Fig. 10; Fig. 14 shows a second position of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 12; Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 14, and Figs. 16 to 20 inclusive illustrate diagrammatically the cycle of operations of the mechanism shown in Figs. 9 to 16 inclusive.

As illustrative of the work to be done by means of my improved mechanism there is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1 a plain woven fabric in which a thread leg I of a loop formed at the left of the loom is first inserted by movement of the weft carrier from left to right. The return movement of the weft carrier lays in the fabric a thread leg 2 of a loop formed at the right of the loom. On the next movement of the weft carrier from left to right the second leg I of the first loop is inserted, and on the return of the weft carrier it carries through the shed the second leg of the second loop. The cycle then recommences. It will, however, be understood that the shedding of the warp threads and the laying of the weft threads may be varied as desired.

As diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 2 to 7 inclusive, gripping and severing mechanism 5 is movable by a carrier (not shown) to a position adjacent to a stationary guide or holder 6 (Fig. 2), and grips a thread coming from the cop l and cuts off the preceding length of thread (not shown in Fig. 2). The mechanism 5 is then moved (Fig. 3) away from the holder 6 and draws of! the thread from the cop 1 across the path of a drawing out device 8, such as a hook or finger on an endless chain, a wheel, or a plunger, which moves between the holder 6 and the mechanism 5. When the device 8 has drawn out a loop 9 (Fig. 4) of sufficient length, the mechanism 5 releases its end of the loop and the leg 9a thereof (Fig. 5) is carried through the shed on a loom by weft carrier I!) (Fig. 6) which may be a dummy shuttle having hooks or the like for engaging the weft. The path of the weft carrier is preferably near the bight of the loop 9 (Figs. 5 and 6) but may be adjacent to the member 6 when but one weft length is drawn at a time. On the return of the weft carrier, it draws a similar filling of weft from the opposite side of the fabric. In the meantime the mechanism 5 has moved to its first position where it grips the thread and severs the second leg 9b of the loop when the loop is of the length of two picks. The weft carrier l0 can now insert the second leg 9b of the loop in the shed, and the cycle is-repeated from both sides of the loom. When the loop drawn is of the length of but one pick, the mechanism 5 draws a second loop for insertion by'the carrier 10 before the thread is severed by the cutter of the mechanism 5.

. To insure that the first leg 9a of the loop is carried through the shed without any length being drawn off the cop l by the drag of the thread,

the mechanism 5 may be returned to its position adjacent to the guide 6 and grip the thread im mediately after the formation of the loop has been completed and the end of the leg 9a released and preferably before the weft carrier engages the thread, as indicated in Fig. 5.

If desired, the holder 6 may include or consist of a stationary gripper and in such case the stationary gripper holds the thread and prevents any more being drawn oil the cop during the insertion of the first leg 8a of the loop, and the mechanism 5 may be returned to its position adjacent the mechanism 6 during or after the insertion of the leg 90.

The gripping, cutting and drawing mechanisms may be of many kinds and actuated through cams, cranks, or the like from a suitable source of power and the loop 9 may be drawn into a slotted tube or covered guideway to prevent the legs after severance from being displaced or entangled or soiled by the mechanism.

As illustrated in Fig. 8, gripping and severing mechanism II is carried on an endless chain II, on which one or more such mechanisms may be mounted. Mechanism ll grips an end of thread passing through a stationary holder i3 and carries such thread around a second stationary holder I, such as a hook or finger, and back to form a loop.v A further stationary holder l5 may be provided to hold the end of the loop while the mechanism ll returns to its starting point. When the gripper I5 is used, it is opened at the right instant to permit the weft carrier ill to carry a leg of the loop into the shed. Meanwhile the mechanism H is returned to its initial position, either by continuing or reversing its path, and grips the thread coming from the cop and then severs the second leg of the loop therefrom. If desired, the devices i3 and It: may be provided with cutters, in which case no cutter is required on the mechanism ll. Suitable thread guides are provided where necessary to cause the thread to pass into the grippers while permitting the moving parts to follow a path clearing all stationary devices.

It will be understood that the positions of the several parts may be adjusted to vary the length,

of the loops drawn to suit the widths of the fabrics being woven.

As illustrated in Figs. 9 to 20 inclusive, a preferred embodiment of my invention is applied to a loom having a lay a. and a weft carrier B such as a dummy shuttle provided with hooks (not shown) for engaging, on each side of the loom, a weft thread C when the latter is moved into the path of the weft carrier by the depressor D.

The wefts are delivered into position for weaving in the form of a loop by drawing out devices or fingers E on chains F on each side of the loom and the bight of the loop is held by a rocking finger'g when the member E forming the loop has become disengaged therefrom.

In accordance with my improvements, the mechanism on each side of the loom for positioning, holding and severing thread from the cop or yarn package H, to permit the formation of a loop by a drawing out device E, comprises a shaft 20 journalled in bearings of abracket 2| fixed to the loom frame and driven through a worm 22 by suitable driving mechanism connected with the main driving shaft of the loom. A bifurcated housing 23 is adjustably mounted on the bracket 2| and has journalled therein the upper section of the shaft 20 on which is fixed a double cam 24 adapted to rock a hook-like lever fulcrumed on the pintle 26 fixed in the housing. The end 25" of the lever 25 engages an arm 2'! of a bell crank fulcrumed on the pintle 28 and having an arm 29 forming a movable gripper jaw adapted for coaction with the fixed gripper jaw 30 having adjacent thereto a thread guide 3|. The arm 21 is normally pressed outward by a spring pressed plunger 32 so as to normally hold the jaw 29 in closed position against the jaw 30. The gripper jaw 29 is, however, opened by the action of the shaft 20 through the cam members 24, lever 25 and arm 21. The thread grippers 29 and 34 are adjacent to the chain F and in the plane of the drawing out device E thereon.

A bracket 33 is adjustably mounted on the bracket 2| and is provided with a bearing 33' in which the shaft 20 is journalled and which supports the carrier 34 loosely sleeved on theshaft 20. A hanger 35 of the carrier 34 is pivotally connected by a link 36 with a lever 31 fulcrumed on the bearing 38 and normally biased to the position shown in Fig. 12 by "the spring 39 connected with the hanger 33 of the bracket 33 and with the hanger 31 of the lever 31. The lever 31 has journalled thereon a roller 43 adapted for engagement by the cam 4i fixed to the shaft 24 whereby the lever 31 and the carrier 34 are shifted from the position shown in Fig. 12 to the position shown in Fig. 14.

The upper bracket 34a of the carrier 34 has one end loosely sleeved and fulcrumed on the shaft 20 and the other end provided with a thread guide 42, a fixed gripper jaw 43 and a fixed cutter knife 44.

An oscillatory gripper jaw 45, complementary to the gripper jaw 43, and a spring pressed oscillatory cutter knife 46, complementary to the cutter 44, are fulcrumed on the stud 41 on the member 34a, and the transverse arms 45 and 43' of the gripper and cutter respectively are pivotally connected by a pintle 48 and link 43 with one'arm of a bell crank 54 fulcrumed on the bearing stud 5i of the arm 34a. The opposite arm of the bell crank 50 is pivotally connected to a link 52 containing a slot through which passes a pin or stud 53 fixed to the hooked lever 54 fulcrumed on the bearing 38.

The hooked end of the lever 54 is rocked by earns 55 and 54 fixed to and revoluble by the shaft 34. The opposite end of the lever 54 is provided with a nose 54 adapted to engage and rock the arms 45' and 46' against the action of the spring pressed plunger 54 when the mechanism is in the position indicated in Fig. 12.

A bracket 54, adjustably mounted on the bracket 2 i, has fulcrumed thereon a lever 5i provided with a roller 62. Cams I53, 53' are fixed to the shaft 24 and rock the lever 4i through their engagements with the roller 52. A link 54 has an adjustable pin and slot connection with the lever GI and \is pivotally connected with a lever 55 rocking on the fulcrum 44. A spring 31 anchored on the pin (iii and to the pintle connecting the members 6i and 64 biases the parts to the position shown in Fig. 13. l

The end of the lever 45 contains a slot iii in which is engaged a pin or stud ii fixed to the compensating slide 12 which is movable in a slideway formed in the bracket 54 and is held therein by a cover plate 43. The outer end of the slide is provided with a self threading eye 174 for engaging a leg of a loop being drawn out by a member E and projecting such thread between guides '45 to compensate for the difference in length of the legs of the loop.

A cam 16 fixed to the lower end of the shaft 20 rocks a bell crank 11 connected by a link 18 with a bell crank 19. A link 89 connects the bell crank 19 with a toothed quadrant 8| meshing with pinion 82 for operating the finger G in timed relation with the loop-feeding device E.

i It will be understood that a bracket 2| and its supported parts are attached to each side of the frame of a loom, and that the mechanisms on the opposite sides of the loom operate in alternation to provide weft thread loops C for insertion in the shed by the weft carrier B. The sequence of steps of each such mechanism may be understood from the diagrammatic illustrations shown in Figs. 16 to 20 of the mechanisms on the right hand side of the loom which are complementary and similar to the mechanism shown in detail in Figs. 10 to 15 for the left hand side of the loom.

As illustrated in Fig. 16, a thread end from a stationary cop or package H is threaded through suitable tension devices I on the machine frame between the jaws 29 and 30 of the stationary thread holder, and between the jaws 43 and 45 of the oscillatory gripper and cutter mechanism mounted on the carrier 34. In this position a cam member 24 is in engagement with the lever 25 to rock the bell crank arm 2'! and open the jaw 29 to permit free movement of the thread through the holder; the cam M has engaged the roller 49 to rock the shaft 31, link 36 and carrier 34 to a posit-ion adjacent the stationary thread holder as indicated in Fig. -14,and a cam member 55 has just passed the point of the lever arm 54 to permit the jaws 43 and 45 to close and the cutters 44 and 45 to sever the preceding thread length, if any.

The rotation of the shaft 20 moves the cam 4i past the roller 44 to permit the spring 39 to retract the lever 311, link 33 and carrier 34 to the position indicated in Fig. 12, thereby drawing the thread end held by the movable gripper mechanism across the path of a finger E carried by the chain F. The movement of the chain F carries the drawn end of the thread downwardly to form a loop (Fig. 17), and when the loop has been partially formed a cam member 63 is rotated by the shaft 44, and acts through the wheel 62, lever 4i, link 44, lever 55 and pin ii to project the compensator rod 42. The eye E4 of the compensator rod engages the shorter leg of the loop C and carries it between the guides i5 so as to equalize the length of the two legs. When the loop is fully formed (Fig. 18) it is engaged by the finger g and the finger E is disengaged therefrom. The depressor D depresses the leg of. the loop held by the movable gripper into the path of the dummy shuttle B, and as this shuttle begins its movement across the lay A, a cam 55 rocks the end of the lever 54, which acts through its nose 511 to rock the arms 45' and 45' and release the end of the thread theretofore held thereby.

While the dummy shuttle is carrying the released leg of the loop through the shed of the fabric and returning with a leg of the loop formed at the opposite side of the loom, a cam 4i engages the roller 44 to again rock the carrier 34 and the gripper and cutter mechanism carried thereby to position adjacent to the stationary holder, (as shown in Fig. 20) and when the shuttle B is again ready to start across the shed a cam 55 acts through the lever 54, link 52, bell crank 54, link 43 and pintle 44 to open the jaw 44 and cutter 45. The thread forming the remaining leg of the loop then passes between the jaws 43 and H and cutters 45 and 46 and when the cam 55 has passed the tooth of the lever 54 the spring plunger 58 closes the jaw and cutter thereby severing the end of the last leg of the loop to permit its insertion in the shed by the weft carrier B and leaving the movable gripper with a new end fixed therein to repeat the cycle described.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, a stationary thread holder, gripper mechanism movable toward and from said holder and adapted for engaging a thread-carried by said holder, means for drawing into a loop a thread drawn by said gripper from said holder, an oscillatory carrier carrying said gripper mechanism across the path of the loop drawing means, a cutter, and means for operating said cutter to cut the thread forming said loop when said gripper is again adjacent. to said holder.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a stationary thread holder, a gripper movable toward and from said thread holder, means for drawing into a loop a thread drawn by said gripper from said holder, an oscillatory carrier carrying said gripper across the path of the loop drawing means, means for operating said gripper to release said thread after the formation of said loop, and a cutter for severing the thread adjacent the opposite end of said loop.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a thread holder, a gripper movable toward and from said holder and adapted for drawing a thread therefrom, an oscillatory carrier carrying said gripper toward and from said thread holder, a cutter, and means for operating said cutter when said gripper is adjacent to said holder.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a thread holder, 2. gripper movable toward and from said holder and adapted to draw athread carried by said holder, means for drawing into a loop a thread drawn by said gripper from said holder, an oscillatory carrier carrying the gripper across the path of said loop drawing means, a cutter, and means for operating said cutter when said gripper is adjacent to said holder.

5. In apparatus of the character described, means for drawing a loop with legs of unequal length, means for elongating one of the legs of the loop drawn by said means and equalizing the length of said legs, and a weft carrier for inserting into a shed the legs of said loop altemately.

6. In apparatus of the character described, means for drawing a loop with legs of unequal length, means for elongating one of the legs of a loop drawn by said means and equalizing the length of said legs, and a weft carrier for inserting in a shed thread forming said loop.

'7. In apparatus of the character described, a stationary thread holder, oscillating means comprising a thread gripper movable toward and from said holder and drawing a thread therethrough, a thread looping device, said means laying a thread in the path of said looping device, a cutter, means for releasing a thread held by said stationary holder, means for severing said loop adjacent to said stationary holder.

8. In apparatus of the character described, a yarn holder, means for forming a succession of loops from yarn carried by said holder, a cutter successively severing the consecutive loops formed and a weft carrier for inserting in a shed the thread forming the successive loops, said loops being drawn while said thread is disengaged from said carrier.

9. In apparatus of the character described, a thread holder, a gripper, one of said members being movable relatively to the other in a reversing movement to draw a thread from said holder, means for elongating into a loop a thread drawn from said holder, means for releasing the thread from said gripper and a cutter for severing said thread adjacent to said holder.

10. In apparatus of the character described, a stationary thread holder, a rotary shaft, means loosely sleeved on said shaft and having a thread gripper supported thereon at a point spaced from said shaft, means whereby the rotation of said shaft swings said means in one direction about the shaft, a thread looping device, said first means laying a thread in the path of said looping device, means for swinging said first means in the opposite direction about said shaft, means for releasing a thread held by said stationary holder, and means for severing said loop adiacentto said stationary holder.

WHITWORTH F. BIRD. 

